Electric switch



2 1927. Sept o P. c. BUTTE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 3l, 1925 FIEJ..

llllllll /Nvf/vroe Paul C. Buffe 521@ a Trae/5x5 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED Tas ics.

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Application iilea March 31, 19215. Serial No. 19,621.

The invention relates to electric switches and particularly to so-called safety switches ci' compact construction for switchboard mounting in which fuses are combmed wlt-h the switch,'means being provided for preventing access to the fuses while the switch is closed. l

An object of the invention is to provlde a. safety switch in which both thel switch and the fuses are enclosed, means being provided for insuring the closing of the fuse chamber prior to the closing of the switch. Another object of the invention is to pro'- vide a safety switch in which access tothe fuses may not he had until after the switch has been fully o cned.l

A further object of the invention is to' provide a safety switch having a cover over inse casing and a cover over the switch casing, the covers being so arranged that the initial closing' movement of the switch cover moves the fuse cover to closed position 1n advance of the closing of the switch.

Another object of the invention is to providemeans ior preventing contact of the `hand of the operator with the live contacts of the switch, when the switch casing is open, and for preventing;l burning `by the are that is formed as the switch is opened.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing,

will be set forth at length in the followingy description., where I shall outline in 'full that :form of my invention which il have selooted for illustration in the drawings ac companying and forming part of the present speciiication. in said drawings i have shown one form of switch embodying my 1nvention, but it is to he understood that l do not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Relierring to said drawings:

Finora lis an elevation of the safety 'switc of my invention in closed position,

switch and fuses, both the switch and the fuses being enclosed to prevent accidental contact therewith. The switch and the fuses are enclosed in one chamber, which is profvided with two covers, movement of one cover serving to open the switch and movement of the other cover serving to permit access` to the fuses. The two covers are arranged lin operative relationship, so that the cover of the fuse chamber may 'not be opened or. may not remain open during the time that the switch is closed and the cover of the switch extends over the switch blades to prevent accidental burning 'by the arc which is formed as the switch is opened.

The switch comprises a panel 2 on which the various elements of the switch are mounted. Secured to the panel are a plurality of switch posts 3 on which the switch blades 4 are pivoted. The switch blades are connected together by a. cross bar 5 of insnlating material, so that the plurality of blades are simultaneously moved into and out of engagement with the switch contacts. The switch contacts 6 are mounted on the panel in position to be engaged by the switch blades and, in order to prevent contact of the hand with'the switch contacts., they are disposed in a. box-like structure 7 of insulating material, secured. to the panel and extending transversely thereof. lhestructure 7 is nrovi'ded on its side and top with slots in alinement with the contacts to permit the 'with the contacts. The contacts are thus cn- -closed in a box so that accidental contact of the hand therewith is prevented. Arranged on the panel at that side 0i the boi: 7 which is remote from the switch post 3, is a plate of insulating material 8, which closes the far side of the box and which preferably extends above the box 7, to prevent accidental contact with the contacts t3 by a =person inserting his hand into the switch from above when it is open. The contacts 6 are therefore thoroughly shielded so that the possibility of accidental contact ot' the hand therewith is reduire/ed to a minimum. Mounted on the' Jpanel adjacent and preferably below the switch are a. plurality ot fuse clips 9 which are normally operatively connected by removable cartridge fuses In' the nsoal operation ci' electrical apparatus, the insee :frequently 'burn out, reqnirin the re- -inoval of the horned.' out :hises an ,the inscrtion ci new When the switch is f and Looe closed,n the upper fuse c'iip 9 is noti and many accidents have occurred by persons bringing their bands into contact with the het ciip While they are endeavoring to change the fuses. @ne oi the objecte ci my invention is to provide a switch ot such character that access to the fuses may' not be had when tbe svvitcii is ciosed.

'Secured to the panel and enciosing the fuses and iuse ci'ips is a casing comprising the side vvais 13 and tiie bottom Waii .The casingn is provided with a cover which is hinged to tbe side Waits 13 on 'the pivot 1, tbe cover being movable about the pivot to permit access to tbe fuses. iice switch is covered by a hood 1'? having side waiis 18, a top wail 19 and a 'front vvaii 51. The hood is pivoted to tbe side vvaiis 13 oi the casing by the pins 22 and is provided with a handle so that it mayreadily be moveda The cross bar 5 is connected. to the front Wall 21 of the hood by the strap .i3 secured to the iront Wall and extending over the cross bar, so that tbe switch blades move substantiaiiy simuitaneousiy with t'ne movement of the hood. riizis construction permits sliding; movement oi tile cross bar in the strap 224i, which is caused by the nonconcentric relation of the pivots oit the switchL biades and the pivots 22.,

adeans provided for preventing the opening; of the cover 15 when tbe bood 1'? is in such position that the switch biades' are in enffagement with the switch contacts 6 or causing a ciosing movement of the cover 15 when the hood is moved. in a direction to ciose the switch. The upper end of the cover 15 extends beyond the pivot 16 the nood is provided with means which cooperate with the upper end of the cover to cause the cover to be closed Whenever tbe switch -is closed.. Se cured to the front face 9,1 of tbe bood is a. late E35 having ings 26 thereon, the outer iaces of Which are concentric with the :axis of the pins Vi/"ben the hood is closed the upper edge of ltbe cover 15 is in abutting or substantial abutting Contact with the curved outer faces 27 of the lugs and, since the upper edge of tbe cover extends above the axis of the pin 1G, the lugs iie in the path oi movement of thel upper edge of the cover in the opening movement of tbe cover, so that the cover may not be opened.. The curved faces 27 of the ings are of such length that they do not move out of pathfo' the upper end of the cover, in the opening movement of tiie hood, until the switch biades i have been moved out of engagement with tbe contacts When the switch blades have been moved out of engagement With tbe-contacts 6, the hood is in such position that the inge 26 are moved out mi: the path of the upper edge of the cover, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, so that the cover may be opened. When tbe cover is open, tbe u end thereof viies in iront oi the upper ur iaces oi tbe iuffs, so that the initiai dosing movement of tbe nood operates, by vitne the relative positions .oi the ings and the upper end oi" the cover 1o, to close cover 15 before the hood has been moved. soinn cient distance to bring the switch. biade into engagement with 'the contacts iin some instances, it may 'be necessary i a skiiied electrician to obtain. access 'to .f jfuses Without openingP tbe circuit and, this purpose, the plate 25 is mounted sc that by' proper manipuiation it may oe moved vertically, moving the lugs out of tbe o the upper edge of the cover. For 'this purpose tbepiate is secured 'to the iiead by screws 28, which extend tiliouggii slots 29 in tile piste. By iooseningg 'miie screws, tbe plate may be pushed upward and, when. in such position, the cover 15 may be opened during the time that the switch is closed.,

1V ciaim:

1. in an apparatus of the ciass describe", a panei. svvitcb contacts mounted on panei, sivitcb blades cooperating Witn solo; contacts, casing' secured to tbe panei, a nood pivoted on the casing and adapted to cover said contacts and biades, a. cover on said casing, norrnaiiy ixed means arranged on the iiood to coac't with tbe cover to iocit tbe cover in ciosed position. when said bood is in closed position, and means for permitting' movement of said normaliy fixed means with respect to said hood for allowing the cover to be opened when the hood is closed position.

2. in a device ofi the class described, a panei, switch means arranged on said pane! and inciuding elements having uninsuiated surfaces, pivotaiiy mounted means movable to a dosed position to shield the uninsuiated surfaces of said switch eiements, said iast recited means beingmovable to an open position to expose said uninsuiated surfaces and aiiow access to 'the same, a casing secured to said panel, a pivotaliy mounted cover over said casing and movable to either an open or ciosed position, means engaging said cover for moving the same to its closed position upon manuai movement of said pivotaliy mounted-means to its closed position, and means positioned by the ciosing of said pivotaiiy mounted member for locking said cover in its closed position.

3. In an apparatus of tbe class described, a panel, switch contacts mounted on said panel, switch blades cooperating with said contacts, a casingsecured to the panei, a hood pivoted on 'said `casing;` and connected to the switch blades, movement of the hood away from 'the panel serving to open the switch, a hinged cover on saidv casing and means on 'the 'bood coacting with the cover whereby movement of the 'hood' to switch switch, a hinged cover on said casing and means for preventing theI movement of the hood to switch closing position when the cover is in open posit-ion.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a panel, switch contacts mounted on said panel, switch blades cooperating with' said contacts, a casing secured to the panel, a. hood pivoted on said 'casing and connected to the switch blades, movement of the hood away from the panel serving to open the switch, a hinged cover on said casing, a

lug mounted to move withthe hood, said lug being in enga-gement with the end ot the cover when the switch is closed, to prevent opening said cover, movement of the hood to open switch position serving to move the lug out ofthe path of the end of the cover, so that the cover may be moved to open position.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a panel, switch contacts mounted on said panel, switch blades cooperating with said contacts, a casing secured to the panel, a hood pivoted on said casing and connected to the switch blades, movement of the hood away from the panel serving to open the switch, a hinged cover on said casing, a

lug mounted to move with the hood, said lug being in engagement with the end of the cover when the switch is closed, to prevent opening said cover, movement of the hood to open switch position serving to move the lug inward and out of the path of the end of the cover, so that the cover may be moved to open position, the lug being so arranged that with both hood and cover open. the edge of' the cover lies in the path oi" hood closing movement of the lug, whereby closing movement of the hood movcs the cover to closed position.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a panel, switch contacts mounted on said panel, switch blades'cooperating with said contacts, a casing secured to the panel, a hood pivoted on said casing and connected to the switch blades, movement of the hood away from the panel serving to open the switch, a hinged cover on said casing adapted to be moved to open position when, the hood is in open switch position and means associated with the hood operative upon initial closing movement of the hood to close the cover, so that the cover is closed in advance of the switch.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a panel, switch contacts mounted on said panel?, switch blades cooperating with said contacts, a casing secured to the panel, a hood pivoted on said casing and connected to the switch blades, movement of the hood away from the panel serving to open the switch, a cover on said casing and normally fixed movable means on the hood arranged to coact with the cover to hold the cover in locked position, when the hood is in switch closing position. said means being movable to permit the cover to be opened when the hood is in switch closing position.

9. Inl an apparatus of the class described, a panel, switch means mounted upon said panel, a casing mounted on said panel, 'a hood pivotally mounted on said casing at a point spaced from said panel and adapted to he mov-ed to enclose said switch means, a cover on said casing, means adjacent the upper end of said cover for pivotally mounting the same to said casing at a point farther removed from said panel than the pivotal mounting for said hood, said upper` end being adapted to move. upward and inward when said cover is opened, and means on said hood for engaging said upper end when said hood is in closed position to lock said cover in closed position.

10. In an apparatus of the class described. a panel, switch means mounted upon said panel, a casing mounted on the panel, a hood pivotally mounted on the casing and adapted to enclose parts ot' the switch when in closed position, a cover pivotally mounted on the casing on an axis parallel to the pivotal mounting of the hood, and an arcuate locking member mounted on the hood and having its surface concentric to the pivotal mounting of the hood and engaging a portion of the cover, whereby the. cover is locked in closed position until the hood is moved a substantial distance vtowards itsopen position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL C. BUTTE.

BMD 

